10 May 2017

MANILA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Seven members of the Abu Sayyaf (ASG) surrendered to the Philippine military in Sulu, Mindanao on Monday due to alleged hardship and leadership problem within the movement, a military official said Tuesday.

Five of those who surrendered were followers of notorious Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya, who is blamed by security officials as behind numerous kidnapping, and was slain by government forces in a firefight also in Sulu, on April 28.

The two other who yielded were both under the group of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Tomas Idjas.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of the military's Joint Task Force Sulu, said the seven surrendered to his task force around 12:35 p.m. on Monday in Luuk town, with assorted ammunition.